When planning the deployment of a new solution for communication and collaboration, business leaders often spend a lot of time focusing on the software today’s team members will use. Choosing a secure, flexible, and feature-rich cloud environment for UC and collaboration is important for keeping teams on the right track in today’s evolving workplace.
However, the software is only one side of the UC coin. To ensure teams can connect effectively with each other, as well as external parties and customers, business leaders also need to purchase the right endpoints. From digital whiteboards for team collaboration to webcams for video meetings, there are several endpoints crucial to the UC experience today.
For most business buyers, how do you make sure you’re investing in the right future-proof technology for your company? Recognising the hottest trends in the UC endpoint landscape could be an excellent first step. Here are some trends you need to know about in 2022.
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The Rise of Hybrid Work
Since the pandemic, around 76% of companies say they’ve switched to a hybrid working model. This means more professionals than ever before are working in an environment which allows them to shift between the office and remote environments.
Hybrid work can have a lot of benefits for the modern workforce, allowing teams to choose the perfect environment for their workday based on the tasks they’re going to be doing. However, many endpoint purchasing strategies haven’t yet been adapted to suit the hybrid model.
A switch to a hybrid mode of work might mean companies need to think more carefully about how they equip the average “meeting room” in an office. A complex meeting environment may need to be replaced with a simple, all-in-one video bar or room kit, which can be transported to any room where space is available for an ad-hoc meeting.
At the same time, companies will need to think about the endpoints their team members are going to be talking with them in and out of the office. You’ll have to ensure the tools your teams have access to allow for the same level of excellent experience and a sense of inclusion in any environment.
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Empathy and Staff Wellbeing
In the past, perhaps the central focus of any business leader investing in new endpoints for their workforce was budget. Companies wanted to purchase affordable tools which could simultaneously provide a good customer experience without a complex setup process.
Now, in the age of the “Great Resignation”, where employees are demanding more empathy and respect from their employers, there’s a greater focus on putting the experiences and needs of the employee first. Companies are beginning to think more carefully about comfort and hearing protection when purchasing headphones and speakers.
When choosing webcams, business leaders need to think about things like auto-focusing tools for ease of use, as well as privacy shutters and screens to give users peace of mind when they log off from the workplace after working from home. At the same time, all endpoints, from whiteboards to IP phones, need to be purchased with simplicity in mind. The easier it is to use the device, the more likely it is employees will adopt the right tools, rather than simply using their own alternatives.
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Personalised UC Tools
Speaking of the increasing focus on employee experience, companies are also recognising the individuality of their team members on a much larger scale. The last couple of years have helped demonstrate just how many different employee personas there are in the standard office. Different kinds of workers require different styles of endpoint.
Allowing team members more control over the kinds of devices they use on a daily basis can lead to significantly higher levels of productivity, engagement, and employee satisfaction. Today’s business leaders will need to move beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to endpoint provisioning, and think about how they can give their team members more options.
